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THE YELLOW-BELLIED WOODPECKER. 



Picus vARius, Linn. 



PLATE CXC. Male and Female. 



This beautiful species returns to Louisiana and the other Southern 

 States, about the beginning of October. It remains there during the 

 winter, and takes its departure before the beginning of April, after which 

 period I have never observed it in these districts. It is seen in Ken- 

 tucky, and a few breed there ; but the greater number return to the mid- 

 dle and especially the northern parts of the Union. During the winter 

 months, it associates with the Hairy, the Red-bellied, and the Downy 

 Woodpeckers. Its notes, which are extremely plaintive, differ widely 

 from those of any other species, and are heard at a considerable distance in 

 the woods 



The Yellow-bellied Woodpecker prefers the interior of the forest du- 

 ring spring and summer, seldom shewing itself near the habitations of 

 man at those seasons. It is a sly and suspicious bird, spending most of 

 its time in trees which have close branches and dense foliage. It gene- 

 rally bores its nest at a considerable height, and usually in the trunk of 

 an undecayed tree, immediately beneath a large branch, and on its south- 

 ern side. The hole is worked out by the male as well as the female, in 

 the manner followed by other species, and to the depth of from fifteen to 

 twenty-four inches. The aperture is just large enough to admit the 

 birds, but the hole widens gradually towards the bottom, where it is large 

 and roomy. The eggs, which are from foiu- to six, and pure white, with 

 a slight blush, are deposited on the chips without any nest. The young 

 seldom leave the hole until they are fully fledged, after which they follow 

 their parents, in a straggling manner, until the approach of spring, when 

 the males become shy towards each other, and quarrel whenever they 

 meet, frequently erecting the feathers of the head and fighting despe- 

 rately. 



They fly through the woods with rapidity, in short undulations, sel- 

 dom ffoino- farther at a time than from one tree to another. I never ob- 

 served one of these birds on the ground. Their food consists of wood- 

 worms and beetles, to which they add small grapes and various berries du- 



